Refrigerating apparatus



Aug. 4, 1931. J. s. BELT ET AL 1,817,605

I REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 14, 1929 Jdzdar/ laov;

Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH S. BELT, OF AMARILLO, AND EDWARD M. LADD, 013 FORT WORTH, TEXAS REFRIGERJA'IING APPARATUS Application filed May 14, 1929. Serial No. 362,980.

The present invention relates to improvements in refrigeration and has reference more particularly to an apparatus for use in refrigerating perishable products by means of carbon-dioxide that is enclosed within'a suitably insulated container.

One of the important objects of the prescut invention is to provide means in association with the insulated container for con- 1o trolling or'regulating the refrigeration and temperature. of the refrigerant and to this end, the container is provided with openings in the respective sides thereof, slidably clo- "-sures being associated with the openings.

A still further object is to provide a refrigerating apparatus wherein means is provided for utilizing the carbon-dioxide r'efri'gerant to freeze water placed within coinpartments arranged in a pan that rests on go top of the block of carbon-dioxide so that ice cubes will be formed.

Another important object is'to provide a refrigerating apparatus of the above-mentioned character wherein the ice cube containing pan can be readily and easily inserted and removed from the insulated container within which is the solid block of carhon-dioxide, the' pan being adapted to rest on top of the block so that as the refrigerant gradually diminishes, the pan will be lowered by, gravity and will at all times rest on top of the refrigerant to insure the formation of ice cubes in the several compartments provided in the pan.

' A further object is to provide a refrigerating apparatus ofthe above-mentioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted for the purposes for which it is designed. v

Other objects and advantages of the in-, vention will become apparent from the fol;

lowing description when taken in connec-' tion with the accompanying drawings.-

. In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indi'cate corre sponding parts throughout the same;

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the refrigerating apparatusembodyingmy invention showing the ice cube pan positioned within the insulated container.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the insulated container for more clearly disclosing the construction of the slidable closure that is associated with each of the openings formed in the respective sides of the container; and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sec- ,tional View through the container and the each side of the container around the respective opening is the substantially U-shaped guide 3 or the slidable closure 4 that is adapted to cooperate with each opening, the upper edge of the plate comprising each closure being bent to form an actuating handle 5.

Each closure plate is fixedly slidable between the guide 3 and the outer face of the adjacent side of the container so that said clossure plates may be held in any adjusted position with respect to the openings and when each closure plate is in its lowermost posltion, the same will completely close the respective openings as shown very clearly in Figure 3. v

The refrigerant that is placed within the insulated container 1 consists preferably of a solid block of carbon-dioxide, the same. being preferably .in a' frozen condition and as l the manner or method in which this refri gerant is formed constitutes no sal1ent part of the present invention, a detailed description thereof is believed unnecessary The solid block of carbon-dioxide is denoted by the reference character 6 and when placed within the insulated container, and the container is then placed in an ice box or refrigerator, the contents of the ice 'box will be'kept in proper condition for use at all times as long as there is a sufficient quantity of the refrigerant within the container 1 to maintain the desired temperature in the ice box.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of a removable rectangular shaped pan 7 that is of a size slightly smaller than the container 1 and within which the pan is adapted to be placed for rest upon the top of the solid block of carbon-dioxide. Suitable handles 8 extend upwardly from the ends of the pan 7 to facilitate the insertion or removal of the same with respect to the container 1.

A series of parallel spaced interconnected longitudinal and transverse partitions 9 and 10 respectively are removably positioned within the pan 7 whereby to divide the same into a series of independent compartments The ice pan 7 is preferably constructed of aluminium although any other thin metal of good conductivity may be used. The pan 7 is filled with water and is set on top of the refrigerant 6 in the container 1. The refrigerant will freeze the water in the pan and ,cause the ice cubes to be formed in the several compartments 11, which cubes can be removed for use whenever desired.

As the -refrigerant gradually diminishes, the ice pan 7 will simultaneously be lowered so as to, at all. times rest on top of the refrigerant to insure the formation of ice cubes in the compartments 11 of the pan 7 As heretofore stated, the-"several closures 4 may be adjusted with respect to the openings 2 to liberate the gases formed during thediminishing of the solid block of carbon- ;dioxide. I

It will thus be seen from theforegoing description, that we have provided an improved refrigerating apparatus that serves a two-fold function, namely as a preservative for perishable products, and as a medium for forming ice cubes, and due to its simplicity, our device can be constructed at a very low cost and the same will at all times be positive and efiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

While we have shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the appended claims.-

What we claim is:

1. In a refrigerator, a refrigerating unit comprising an open-top heat-insulating container adapted to receive a block of refrigerant in the form of solid carbon dioxide, openings in a plurality of sides of the container near the bottom thereof, adjustable closure plates for said openings to regulate the escape of gases liberated by the refrigerant and the admission of air respectivelv from and into the container so as to control the refrigeration, and an ice pan slidably fitted within the container and adapted to rest upon the top of the refrigerant, said pan being further adapted to lower by gravity and remain in contact with the refrigerant as the latter gradually diminishes.

2. A refrigerating unit for use in ice boxes,

comprising a relatively deep heat-insulating container adapted to receive a block of refrigerant in the form of solid carbon dioxide, an ice pan slidably fitted in the container and adapted to rest on the block of refrigerant and to lower by gravity as the latter diminishes, and manually operable means adjacent the bottom of said container to effect the controlled admission of air from the ice box into the container and the controlled escape of gas given off by the refrigerant from said container to the interior of the ice box, whereby to regulate the refrigeration of articles within the ice box.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

JOSEPH S. BELT. EDWARD M. LADD. 

